Widest tires on OEM's

merc123

Active Member

Jan 27, 2003

420

2

39

North GA

Jul 7, 2004

#1

• Jul 7, 2004

• #1

What is the widest tire that I can fit on the OEM size rims (all 4) without looking like it's about to engulf the rim? I was thinking 295 or 305's. Thanks.

 

AirWolf87

New Member

Mar 14, 2004

382

0

0

L I, NY

Jul 7, 2004

#2

• Jul 7, 2004

• #2

what size wheels are on your car 17x9? i think you should be ok with 295. Im running 245/50 in the back of my 16" rims.

 

millhouse

Founding Member

May 14, 2002

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46

Simpsonville, SC

Jul 7, 2004

#3

• Jul 7, 2004

• #3

On a 17" X 8" wheel, the largest size I've seen is a 275...and that is running nittos, which are a bit narrower than compairable tires.

 

BAFMustangGT

New Member

Jul 3, 2004

204

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Rochester, NY

Jul 7, 2004

#4

• Jul 7, 2004

• #4

millhouse said:

On a 17" X 8" wheel, the largest size I've seen is a 275...and that is running nittos, which are a bit narrower than compairable tires.

Click to expand...

Thats what i have....you dont need anything wider...

 

Ryan02Stang

Active Member

Jun 17, 2003

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36

Arlington Heights, Illinois

Jul 7, 2004

#5

• Jul 7, 2004

• #5

I've seen 275 BFG's on stock 17x8 rims. So you could probably fit a 295 because BFG runs big.

 

merc123

Active Member

Jan 27, 2003

420

2

39

North GA

Jul 7, 2004

#6

• Jul 7, 2004

• #6

275 looks good to me then.

 

R

rjstaaf

Founding Member

May 31, 2002

1,310

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39

Somewhere

Jul 8, 2004

#7

• Jul 8, 2004

• #7

I would have to say that most tire manufacturers would not agree. I can't say I have checked all of them but, every one I have seen the specs for call for a 9" rim minimum for a 275. Even Nitto which most people will agree usually run narrow call for a 9" rim minimum for a 275.

If you doubt this simply go to www.tirerack.com, look up the tires you are interested in and view the specs or go to the tire manufacturer's website, they all list the specs. Why people seem to want to ignore the manufacturer's specs is beyond me. Not only is it dangerous, the tires plain and simply won't perform like they are supposed to and least of all you will void any warranty the tires came with by putting them on a rim that is too narrow.

 

Modular2v

Founding Member

Jun 30, 2002

3,222

23

99

oklahoma

Jul 8, 2004

#8

• Jul 8, 2004

• #8

275 or 265

 

9

98GtRioRed

New Member

Dec 7, 2002

87

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0

Jul 8, 2004

#9

• Jul 8, 2004

• #9

I have 17X8 Ford Racing rims. I have 275 on the rear. Go to any tire store and the largest suggested tire is 275 for this width rim.

I like the more aggressive rear tire look myself.

 

merc123

Active Member

Jan 27, 2003

420

2

39

North GA

Jul 8, 2004

#10

• Jul 8, 2004

• #10

I guess I'll now wind up checking the tirerack. If they say 275 is 8 inches than I'll look into it. I just wanted something more aggressive than the 245's

 

LS2 KLR

Member

Apr 16, 2003

452

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17

Houston, TX

Jul 8, 2004

#11

• Jul 8, 2004

• #11

I use to have 285s on the back of my car with the stock 17x8s. It looked real smooth.

 

P

prsrizdgt

New Member

Mar 12, 2004

231

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0

St. Louis

Jul 8, 2004

#12

• Jul 8, 2004

• #12

I had 285 BFG's put on 9 inch Cobra R's, but it took 2 shops to do it. The local Goodyear dealer couldn't get the bead to seat, then the next shop used 90psi of air pressure to do it (not safe and pretty stupid, but it worked). The Tire Rack told me they put this package together all the time but use a special safety cage for the tire tech so he doesn't get hurt. I imagine 275's will go on 8 inchers, but its gonna be a challenge for a shop not accustomed to mounting these types of tires or combinations.

 

M

MustangLife

Active Member

Jan 5, 2003

1,285

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36

Chattanooga, TN

Jul 8, 2004

#13

• Jul 8, 2004

• #13

The biggest tire you can put on a 17x8 is a nitto 275. Nittos run narrower than all other tire manufacturers. All other sizes will be a 265. The 265 or 275 will actually be to big of a tire for the 17x8 rim. The problem you will have is the outside part of the tires will not come in contact with the ground unless around turns.

I have nitto 275's on the back of my car with 01 cobra 17x8 wheels. The center section of the tire is almost bald and the outside edges of the tire have about 1/4 inch of tread left.

Unless your planning on running a drag radial out back I would go with a 255 tire.

Josh

 

R

rjstaaf

Founding Member

May 31, 2002

1,310

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39

Somewhere

Jul 8, 2004

#14

• Jul 8, 2004

• #14

98GtRioRed said:

I have 17X8 Ford Racing rims. I have 275 on the rear. Go to any tire store and the largest suggested tire is 275 for this width rim.

I like the more aggressive rear tire look myself.

Click to expand...

Duh, the tire store will sell you anything you want. As I said, if you don't believe it go to the Tirerack or the tire manufacturer's web site and look at the specs for yourself. Just doesn't make sense to second guess the manufacturer. I for one want my tires to perform as they were intended to. I just can't fathom why anyone would spend the money to buy a performance tire and then handicap it by putting it on a rim it wasn't designed for.

Nitto 555
http://www.nittotire.com/popup_555_sizes.asp

Nitto 555R
http://www.nittotire.com/popup_555r_sizes.asp

Kumho Etasca MX
http://www.kumhousa.com/Products/PtnDetails.asp?mainCatID=1&PtnID=KU-15

These are just a few, the list could go on and on.

 

2013 Geee T

Founding Member

Sep 25, 2002

805

5

19

Oak Park, CA

Jul 8, 2004

#15

• Jul 8, 2004

• #15

Will a 255 look any different than a 245 or is it pointless?

 

2013 Geee T

Founding Member

Sep 25, 2002

805

5

19

Oak Park, CA

Jul 8, 2004

#16

• Jul 8, 2004

• #16

Tirerack said you can do a 265 on the rear. Will that be ok on the front too? I would like to be able to rotate them.

 

StngStr

Member

Jun 24, 2003

616

0

17

Central Florida

Jul 8, 2004

#17

• Jul 8, 2004

• #17

Depends on if you want the front and back to have the same overall diameter. If so, 245/45 in front and 275/40 in back. Or...the next step up would be 255/45 in front and 285/40 in the back, but a 285 is too wide for a 8 inch rim.

 

2013 Geee T

Founding Member

Sep 25, 2002

805

5

19

Oak Park, CA

Jul 8, 2004

#18

• Jul 8, 2004

• #18

I dont mind having the front and the back the same as long as it doesnt cause any problems with rubbing etc up front.

 

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Phoenix00GT

New Member

Apr 26, 2004

245

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0

Bay Area, CA

Jul 8, 2004

#19

• Jul 8, 2004

• #19

you'll get a better ride if you use wider tires out back and go a little thinner up front. You really don't want that wide of a tire up front because it just creates more rolling resistance and doesn't help your handling or comfort.

I'd say go with the 265s out back and 245s up front if you've got stock rims.

 

2013 Geee T

Founding Member

Sep 25, 2002

805

5

19

Oak Park, CA

Jul 8, 2004

#20

• Jul 8, 2004

• #20

I just happened to be at the tire place today picking up someone so I asked about tire sizes on the 8" rim. He said if you go 265 or higher it will bow the contact pacth of the tire and you wont be getting the whole tire to the pavement. Is this true?